Diarrhea in Early Childhood: Short-term Association With Weight and Long-term Association With Length

The short-term association between diarrhea and weight is well-accepted, but the long-term association between diarrhea and growth is less clear. Using data from 7 cohort studies (Peru, 1985-1987; Peru, 1989-1991; Peru, 1995-1998; Brazil, 1989-1998; Guinea-Bissau, 1987-1990; Guinea-Bissau, 1996-1997...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of epidemiology 2013-10, Vol.178 (7), p.1129-1138
Main Authors: RICHARD, Stephanie A, BLACK, Robert E, CHECKLEY, William, GILMAN, Robert H, GUERRANT, Richard L, GAGANDEEP KANG, LANATA, Claudio F, MØLBAK, Kåre, RASMUSSEN, Zeba A, SACK, R. Bradley, VALENTINER-BRANTH, Palle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Body Height
Body Weight
Body Weights and Measures
Child Development
Child, Preschool
Childrens health
Developing Countries - statistics & numerical data
Diarrhea
Diarrhea, Infantile - complications
Diarrhea, Infantile - epidemiology
Disease prevention
Epidemiology
Female
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
General aspects
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Nutrition
Original Contributions
Other diseases. Semiology
Physical growth
Prevalence
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
Weight
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Summary:The short-term association between diarrhea and weight is well-accepted, but the long-term association between diarrhea and growth is less clear. Using data from 7 cohort studies (Peru, 1985-1987; Peru, 1989-1991; Peru, 1995-1998; Brazil, 1989-1998; Guinea-Bissau, 1987-1990; Guinea-Bissau, 1996-1997; and Bangladesh, 1993-1996), we evaluated the lagged relationship between diarrhea and growth in the first 2 years of life. Our analysis included 1,007 children with 597,638 child-days of diarrhea surveillance and 15,629 anthropometric measurements. We calculated the associations between varying diarrhea burdens during lagged 30-day periods and length at 24 months of age. The cumulative association between the average diarrhea burden and length at age 24 months was -0.38 cm (95% confidence interval: -0.59, -0.17). Diarrhea during the 30 days prior to anthropometric measurement was consistently associated with lower weight at most ages, but there was little indication of a short-term association with length. Diarrhea was associated with a small but measurable decrease in linear growth over the long term. These findings support a focus on prevention of diarrhea as part of an overall public health strategy for improving child health and nutrition; however, more research is needed to explore catch-up growth and potential confounders.
ISSN:0002-9262
1476-6256
DOI:10.1093/aje/kwt094